--- In [email protected], "Karen Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >>>> Let's take a look at the pros and cons of Parelli Natural Horsemanship > and icelandic style training and riding. Anyone want to start? > > Ok, before we get to riding....WAY before we get to riding...do we "leave > 'em alone until they are four" or do we do some form of handling or > imprinting of the foals? There's a HUGE difference, right out of the womb.
It probably depends on the horse and the handler. I think quiet gentle handling with foals would be ok, I've also seen some rough stuff that would probably do more harm than good. I don't think I would fool around with imprinting a colt, I'm afraid it could go too far and mess them up. > > Still before we get to riding, do we spend months doing groundwork... or a > few minutes. > I think what I do is a few minutes of groundwork over several years:) I don't repeat and drill and drill, and bore the horse to death. I'm kind of spontaneous with them, and they are spontaneous animals, I do what feels right in my gut. I work/ play with them at liberty, there is a lot to be learned right there. We practice moving in all directions, sending away, coming to me, leading in the right spot. I've done a lot of this with Rose, all at liberty, she began to trust me right away, she likes me. We have done a little clicker training, she loves that. She (a two year old mare) lets me trim and pick out her hooves in the pasture, no halter, leads (no halter), she leads with a halter also, moves her back end when asked, brings her head back to me when I stand at her shoulder and ask her to do so, chose not to run me over the other day when Celie pushed her in my direction (I thought that was pretty good), she trusts me and looks out for me, all of this has come from periodic interactions, playing, but I do have certain goals in mind when I am playing with them. I am the one directing what is happening, but it doesn't seem so much like "training". I really think Snorri and Rose and going to be very easy to start, it's just not going to be a problem. I feel like they already know the basics from the ground, they catch on quickly. My method is probably more like natural horsemanship, just my own way, I have used Parelli techniques before. I had a totally different feeling in my gut when I was being "taught" how to ride an Icelandic Horse in the more traditional way. It wasn't good. I've seen things that just made my stomach sink. This just seems like everyone is happy when we do things this way. (although Zoe still hasn't forgiven me for jabbing her with a needle a few weeks ago, she is right I did do that:) ) Kim Kim
